1722, "anything with which one amuses oneself," Scottish and northern England dialect, possibly a shortened form of employ or deploy.
Popularized in the sense "move or gambit made to gain advantage" by British humorist Stephen Potter (1900-1969).

- They need to apply the same attitude and gumption that got them to New York City to the task of getting a husband.
= Elles doivent appliquer, dans la recherche de l'homme qui deviendra leur mari, la même attitude et la même détermination que celle qui leur a permis de faire leur place à NYC.

[ The NY Post - 13.03.2014 ]

gumption
- détermination - cran - courage

etymonline a écrit:

gumption (n.)

1719, originally Scottish, "common sense, shrewdness," also "drive, initiative," possibly connected with Middle English gome "attention, heed," from Old Norse gaumr "heed, attention."
Sense of "initiative" is first recorded 1812.

1854, "drinking bout," also (v.) "drink heavily, soak up alcohol (= boire en grande quantité) ;" dialectal use of binge "soak" (a wooden vessel).
Noted originally as a Northampton dialect word.
Sense extended c. World War I to include eating as well as drinking.